Tag: Kent State

The Story About May 4 Was The Best Funkyverse Arc in 25 Years. Here’s Why It’s Awful Anyway.

Last week, Tom Batiuk’s blog re-ran his five-week story on the May 4, 1970 Kent State shootings. This is probably his strongest story after Act I, and is well-regarded even by readers of this blog. It has a few problems that are too big to ignore, though.

Continue reading “The Story About May 4 Was The Best Funkyverse Arc in 25 Years. Here’s Why It’s Awful Anyway.”

Thought-Les

Les, the humorless shmuck, humorless shmucks around in today’s strip.

Nothing – not cancer, not Hollywood, not even the students he loathes so much – seems to disturb and anger Les more (oy, sorry) than people laughing at him over something utterly trivial. Funky and Crazy found this out the hard way 9 years ago, in the infamous “Children left behind” strip. Despite what they are doing in Les’ imagination, I doubt they would be bold enough to so much as chuckle anywhere within earshot of Les again.

Is this how TB’s family and friends reacted to his recurring role as “Art Professor” (I think that is both his name and his profession) in the ongoing live-action saga of The Cardinal, the greatest comic superhero around who dresses like the Iowa State University mascot?

Yeah it probably is. Also, Les himself exists in The Cardinal live-action universe. *shudder*

I Have a Dream

Link to today’s strip.

Hello, fellow sufferers, BChasm back in the Agony Booth again after an extended hiatus.  Thanks to all, especially Epicus, who covered for me while Life Happened. (Honestly, you don’t want to know.)

And a Happy Martin Luther King Day to you all.    A reminder that there are things worth fighting for, and people willing to fight for them.

As opposed to other people who can’t be arsed to keep track of their own continuity.   Today’s strip is a good example…

…actually, today’s strip was unavailable for preview, but I’m betting the above remark holds true anyway.

Thanks to BillyTheSkink for an excellent hosting stint.  And, apropos of this, isn’t it the saddest aspect of this strip–the most Funky Winkerbeanesque aspect, if you will–that the most creative, hilarious and insightful things associated with this strip for the last ten years, come from the hosts and commentators on this site, and not from the comic itself?

If Tom Batiuk honestly had any sense of shame, this sort of thing would sting.

If.

IF.

“If” may be the harshest word in the English language.

 

Diplame-a

Well, with today’s strip, Wally has officially beaten Summer across the Kent State graduation stage. And so has Buddy. And Kay Kyser too. Sheesh…

Wait, Kent State? I thought Wally was taking classes at a community college. Granted, I have an uncle who calls Kent a community college. He went to Miami (the Ohio one) though, so his opinion is a little biased.

Also, be sure to check the throw-away panels today for a rare glimpse at Becky’s left arm back when it was still attached.

Thanks for reading my two weeks covering TB’s flotsam. SOSF hall-of-famer and hall-of-namer beckoningchasm will take the helm tomorrow.

Café Oy Vey

The folks who bring you SoSF rely on Grandpa Google too: mainly to confirm a suspicion that ol’ TB has once again drawn inspiration from his tiny Ohio Universe. The black squirrel on the poster in panel 5 is another tipoff that we’re at Kent State. But KSU’s “Cultural Café” IRL isn’t a permanent dining facility: it’s a monthly series of events  “that seeks to educate and familiarize [students, faculty and staff] about the home countries of our international students.” There’s one this Tuesday. With the exception of Adeela and possibly that swarthy guy with the glasses in panel 1, this “café” doesn’t seem any more or less “cultural” than any other spot on campus. But wait! Who’s the gal with the light blue hijab wrapped around her elongated head? Well, since TB teased it in his blog (and Gerald Plourde reminded us in a comment yesterday) it’s not really spoiling the surprise to tell you it’s Wally and Becky’s adopted daughter Rana, who, like Wally, has been missing in action for years.

Veterans’ Day greetings to our readers, and respect and gratitude to our vets. Tune in tomorrow when newly minted guest author SpacemanSpiff85 takes over the helm!